15 Best Asia destinations in October of 2024 from cheapest to most expensive
While some parts of Asia are still deep in their rainy season in October, quite a few of the most interesting cities have great weather this month. Below we have 15 of Asia’s best destinations including cities, islands, beaches, and combinations of those. There will be great choices for everyone, and hopefully you’ll be able to combine at least a few of them if you are flying a long way to reach Asia.
This year we have also ranked the destinations from cheapest to most expensive so you can have some idea of what kind of budget you’ll need. Believe it or not, the cheapest tourist cities in Asia are about a quarter of the price of the most expensive, and all of them are nice. We use our Asia Backpacker Index to rank the destinations, which is updated annually. Room rates in 2024 are down from the previous year in many cases on the list below, and rates were about the same in the rest of the places. In other words, hotel prices in Asia don’t seem to be spiraling every upward like they are in so many other parts of the world is 2024.
This article was updated in July, 2024.
Important October 2024 holidays in Asia
- October 1 to 7 – China National Day and Golden Week (major public holidays)
- October 2 – Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday in India (major public holiday)
- October 29 – Republic Day in Turkey (major public holiday)
15 Best destinations in Asia for October from cheapest to most expensive
Delhi/New Delhi, India
- October avg high: 92F/33C
- October avg low: 65F/18C
- October avg precip: 0.7″/1.8cm
Delhi/New Delhi highlights
- Red Fort complex – is unmissable
- India Gate and Lotus Temple are amazing in person
- Gateway to Taj Mahal in Agra (better than staying in Agra itself)
- Excellent and cheap street food and restaurant food, but be careful!
- Spice markets and other unique markets all over
Delhi has scorching summers and surprisingly chilly winters, so October is an ideal month when you actually get decent temperatures and very little rain. The sights around this huge city are some of the most interesting in Asia, and this is also the best place to start a trip to Taj Mahal, which is in Agra, and a popular day trip from here.
New Delhi is actually a small region within central Delhi where you find the capital and government buildings, along with many hotels and a few sights as well. Hotels here are very reasonably priced, although it’s wise to be careful of the cheapest places because the standards can be very low. Delhi now has some good hostels as well, but again it’s worth checking those reviews. Hotel rates in 2024 are looking very low even compared to last year, but again, it’s important to check those reviews and not take chances on a place that might not meet your standards.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $19 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $38 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $4 per person
Delhi Backpacker Index for 2024: US$19.61
Pokhara, Nepal
- October avg high: 75F/33C
- October avg low: 59F/23C
- October avg precip: 2.2″/8.8cm
Pokhara highlights
- Gateway to the Annapurna Circuit and world-famous trekking
- Devi’s Fall, at least when there is enough water
- Phewa Lake on your front doorstep
- Pleasant and quiet town along a lake
- Very cheap food and drinks as well as weirdly cheap hotels
If you haven’t heard of Pokhara you aren’t alone, and it means you probably haven’t started planning a trip to Nepal yet. Kathmandu is the capital of the country, but Pokhara is the place where people come for trekking and other outdoor activities.
Pokhara is actually one of the world’s cheapest cities if you just want a nice hotel room and 3 meals a day. It’s also very relaxed and friendly. October is one of only 4 great weather months each year, so this is part of the high season. If you want to go trekking into the nearby Annapurnas, it’s not quite so cheap however.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $25 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $38 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $6 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Pokhara
>>>Pokhara prices and travel tips
Pokhara Backpacker Index for 2024: US$21.43
Luang Prabang, Laos – Cheapest
- October avg high: 88F/31C
- October avg low: 70F/21C
- October avg precip: 4.2″/10.5cm
Luang Prabang highlights
- Mekong cruises to waterfalls and caves
- Old Quarter historic district is lovely
- Luang Prabang Night Market for shopping and entertainment
- Laid back and mellow feeling with riverfront restaurants
- Surprisingly cheap hotels, good food, and drinks
Another northern city in the region is Luang Prabang, which is the main tourist hub of Laos. This is a lovely and very mellow town that is very affordable as well. You can famously take the 2-day slow-boat journey between Luang Prabang and the Thai border, and it’s highly recommended for those on longer trips.
Luang Prabang is another charming city where you can get hotel rooms for far less than you would expect once you see how nice the place is. The main challenge for some people is that it’s hard to get a cheap flight here, and the overland methods of bus and boat travel are a bit slow. You’ll notice rates for 4-star hotels are much higher than 3-star hotels so it’s worth taking a close look at both and you can probably find a good bargain.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $25 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $112 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $6 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Luang Prabang
>>>Luang Prabang prices and travel tips
Luang Prabang Backpacker Index for 2024: US$21.92
Chiang Mai, Thailand
- October avg high: 88F/31C
- October avg low: 71F/22C
- October avg precip: 4.8″/12.0cm
Chiang Mai highlights
- Doi Suthep temple complex outside of town
- Famous night market for shopping, dining, and entertainment
- City walls and moat are unique in this area
- Amazing, cheap food that is surprisingly different from Bangkok’s
- Wonderfully cheap hotels and short-term rentals
If you go to the popular cities in southeast Asia such as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, you are still likely to get rained on in October. But if you head a bit north to Chiang Mai you’ll have less chance of rain and you’ll also get much more pleasant temperatures in general.
In case you aren’t familiar with it, Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second city and it’s the main base for trekking and culture in the north. This is also famously a very affordable city, with posh hotels going for shockingly low prices. Nearly everything is cheaper in Chiang Mai than in Bangkok or the islands, so it’s a good place to hang around and enjoy the weather if you’ve got the time.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $15 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $27 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $6 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Chiang Mai
>>>Chiang Mai prices and travel tips
Chiang Mai Backpacker Index for 2024: US$23.19
Goa, India
- October avg high: 89F/32C
- October avg low: 72F/11.2C
- October avg precip: 4.6″/11.5cm
Goa highlights
- Excellent and photogenic beaches
- Old Goa historic area is unique even for India
- Anjuna Flea Market – Famous hippie market, don’t miss it!
- Great and cheap Portuguese-inspired cuisine
- Famous beach parties and some of India’s cheapest alcohol
October is when the rainy season in Goa comes to an end, although you can still get some downpours early in the month. Most visitors from outside of India don’t start arriving until December, so October is a very good month if you prefer smaller crowds.
Goa is actually a state that is lined with various small beach towns, and each is different from the other. Some, such as Vagator and Anjuna, are famous for their beach parties and hippie vibe. But others are known for families or simple beach huts. Doing some research is essential if this is your first trip.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $29 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $69 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $6 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Goa
>>>Goa prices and travel tips
Goa Backpacker Index for 2024: US$27.85
Bali, Indonesia
- October avg high: 86F/30C
- October avg low: 77F/25C
- October avg precip: 3.6″/9.0cm
Bali highlights
- Great beaches and surfing in many areas
- Stunning temples and monuments all over the island
- Shockingly cheap hotels, with fairly cheap food and drinks
- Fascinating Hindu culture and gamelan music
- Excellent resorts in a secluded area called Nusa Dua
October is the last non-rainy month in Bali until April, so it’s a good time to come to enjoy the shoulder season. The weather is mostly dry and warm, and yet Bali isn’t overflowing with Australians or Europeans like it is in most of the other nicer months, and even the rainy months.
It’s worth noting that Bali has become so crowded and overdeveloped that some people no longer enjoy it, but if you stay in a large hotel with its own stretch of sand then you might not even notice that. If crowds do bother you you can always head to Lovina along the northern coast, or to nearby Lombok, which are both like Bali was 20 or more years ago.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $14 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $27 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $6 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Kuta, Bali
>>>Bali prices and travel tips
Kuta, Bali Backpacker Index for 2024: US$27.97
Mumbai, India
- October avg high: 91F/33C
- October avg low: 74F/23C
- October avg precip: 3.5″/8.8cm
Mumbai highlights
- Gateway of India monument in the harbour
- Taj Mahal Hotel in the same area
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus – Stunning train station
- Elephanta Caves and boat trip
- Global Vipassana Pagoda
Similar to Goa, which is down the coast from Mumbai, the summer rainy season here can be overwhelming. But in October it’s usually quite dry and the temperatures are starting to get reasonable as well. Mumbai is India’s business and financial center, as well as the center of its film industry, but it’s not actually a classic tourist city. In other words, don’t plan on visiting Mumbai unless there are some specific things you have in mind to see.
Though still reasonable by international standards, hotels in Mumbai are very expensive for India. The popular tourist area in the south and the business district are both quite small, so real estate goes at a heavy premium here. Mumbai is worth seeing, but probably best for only a couple days before heading to a smaller town or a beach.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $33 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $97 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $13 per person
Mumbai Backpacker Index for 2024: US$35.15
Shanghai, China
- October avg high: 73F/23C
- October avg low: 59F/15C
- October avg precip: 2.5″/6.3cm
Shanghai highlights
- Probably the world’s coolest skyline
- The Bund (riverside walk with skyline view)
- Skydecks at a few different towers and skyscapers
- Nanjing Road shopping district
- Traditional Chinatown area (seriously!)
Far more modern than Beijing, many visitors prefer Shanghai even though it doesn’t have many historic sights. This coastal city is very hot during summer so October is an ideal month to visit and even do a group tour before it gets too cold in November.
Most things in Shanghai are a bit more expensive than in Beijing, and hotels in particular. But by international standards Shanghai is still pretty cheap, especially for such a modern city. There are many expats here so it feels fairly international in places.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $42 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $57 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $13 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Shanghai
>>>Shanghai prices and travel tips
Shanghai Backpacker Index for 2024: US$45.75
Seoul, South Korea
- October avg high: 68F/20C
- October avg low: 50F/10C
- October avg precip: 1.9″/4.8cm
Seoul highlights
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- K-Star Road and pop culture sights
- Day trip to the DMZ (reserve well in advance!)
- Amazing food and trendy drinks
- Myeong-dong shopping district
Seoul is yet another Asian city with scorching summers and winters that start sooner than we would like. October is a fine month to come and enjoy the excellent food culture here, not to mention the high-tech culture and pop culture as well. In fact, Korea has become so trendy with younger people that it’s one of the hottest destinations in Asia these days. It’s pretty easy to get by in Seoul only in English because all of the important signs and many menus are also in English.
Hotels in Seoul are good value in general considering the high standards that you get from the many chains and even independent places in the city center. As with most large Asian cities, the restaurants can range from very cheap to extremely expensive, depending on how much comfort and familiarity that you require.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $43 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $75 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $19 per person
>>>Check current hotel promotions for Seoul
>>>Seoul prices and travel tips
Seoul Backpacker Index for 2024: US$53.53
Beijing, China
- October avg high: 66F/19C
- October avg low: 46F/8C
- October avg precip: 0.9″/2.3cm
Beijing highlights
- Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
- Nearby sections of the Great Wall are easy to reach by bus or shuttle
- Palace Museum – the best in China
- Amazing food and drink culture
- Hutongs (ancient alleyways)
Beijing has hot summers and then suddenly in October it cools down to where you need a jacket during the day. The winters here are quite chilly so October really is the best month in the second half of the year to enjoy this huge city when it’s reasonably warm and dry.
Most Westerners who visit China will typically book a package tour that includes Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. Unlike most other parts of the world, those package tours can be surprisingly good bargains, even for small-group tours of fewer than 20 people. But if you come on your own you can do it for even less, although having a guide can really help because not many people speak English. Here’s why you still probably want to visit China as part of a tour.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $72 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $75 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $32 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Beijing
>>>Beijing prices and travel tips
Beijing Backpacker Index for 2024: US$59.35
Malé, Maldives
- October avg high: 84F/29C
- October avg low: 77F/25C
- October avg precip: 7.6″/19.0cm
Maldives highlights
- Almost 100 private-island resorts with water villas
- Sandy beaches on most islands and all resorts
- Amazing weather and nightly sunsets
- Excellent scuba diving and snorkeling
- Very good all-inclusive resorts at reasonable prices
It’s sad to say, but Malé is one of Asia’s least charming and worthwhile capital cities. It’s also one of the most crowded, and the only place to get even a drop of alcohol nearby is a single hotel near the airport. The reason people come to Malé is to hop a speedboat or sea-plane to one of the hundreds of resort islands in this huge chain.
You may have heard that the Maldives home to most of the world’s water villas. Even though this is a non-wealthy Asian country, the water villas are as expensive as they are wonderful. They start at around US$300 per night, although you can get island rooms for closer to US$100 per night at some of the same resorts.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $67 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $104 for two people
Malé Backpacker Index for 2024: US$61.02
Xi’an, China
- October avg high: 67F/19C
- October avg low: 49F/9C
- October avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm
Xi’an highlights
- Terracotta Warriors tour, of course
- City walls tour or walk
- Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the center of town
- Great Mosque of Xi’an and street food in Muslim Quarter
- Nicely affordable hotels and food
Very few people would ever come to China for the first time and only go to Xi’an, but if you are already coming to see Beijing and Shanghai (see below) as well, you might as well pop over to see the famous Terracotta Warriors among other things.
Xi’an is a bit cheaper than the other two larger cities and it shows you a different side of modern China as well. You can take the bullet train from Beijing here in only about 7 hours, but flying is obviously faster and typically cheaper as well.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $60 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $62 for two people
>Check current hotel promotions for Xi’an
>>>Xi’an prices and travel tips
Xi’an Backpacker Index for 2024: US$61.74
Tokyo, Japan
- October avg high: 71F/22C
- October avg low: 59F/15C
- October avg precip: 6.4″/6.0cm
Tokyo highlights
- Imperial Palace, shrines, and gardens
- Ginza shopping district
- Tokyo feels like visiting the future
- Harajuku District for fashion and trends
- Some of the best and most varied food on the planet
Tokyo is another city that is extremely hot and also fairly rainy in summer, so October is a good month to visit when it’s still warm and it’s drying out. This city is so modern that dealing with the rain isn’t problematic in general, but still it’s better to not have to deal with it if you can avoid it.
This city and country have always been considered the most expensive in Asia, but prices here haven’t budged much in over 20 years and it’s now similar in price to a mid-range European city. In fact, Singapore recently surpassed Tokyo to become the most expensive Asian city for 3-star travelers in our recent study.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $57 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $58 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $20 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Tokyo
>>>Tokyo prices and travel tips
Tokyo Backpacker Index for 2024: US$63.25
Hong Kong
- October avg high: 82F/28C
- October avg low: 74F/23C
- October avg precip: 6.0″/15.0cm
Hong Kong highlights
- Amazing skyline, especially at night
- Victoria Peak and funicular
- Some of the world’s best shopping
- Star ferries – Historic and cheap with amazing views
- Excellent Chinese and international food scene
Hong Kong is at the end of its rainy season in October, and temperatures are fairly reasonable most of the time as well. The later you come in the month the drier it is likely to be. Either way, this city is good at dealing with rainfall, so it’s not the problem it is in other places anyway.
You may have heard that Hong Kong has become insanely expensive in recent years, and that is true in some ways, but it’s still possible to enjoy this amazing city on a reasonable budget. There are plenty of 3-star and 4-star hotels with good locations and reasonable prices, and the more authentic local food tends to be cheap as well.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $89 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $113 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $29 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Hong Kong
>>>Hong Kong prices and travel tips
Hong Kong Backpacker Index for 2024: US$71.88
Singapore
- October avg high: 87F/31C
- October avg low: 77F/25C
- October avg precip: 8.2″/20.5cm
Singapore highlights
- Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino in the basement
- Orchard Road shopping district – one of the world’s best
- Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel
- Raffles Hotel (home of the Singapore Sling)
- Hawker food centers for cheap and excellent food
We left Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur off the list for October because it’s still the rainy season in those huge cities, but Singapore has a rainy season that goes almost the whole year so it’s still a good choice this month. This is an extremely modern city that is used to dealing with the quick tropical rainstorms, so they really are nothing to fear.
Singapore has become Asia’s most expensive city for 3-star travelers, overtaking Tokyo, mostly because the hotels here are now so pricey. It’s still possible to get a reasonable deal if you can stay a bit away from the CBD or Orchard Road. Another way to save money is to book one of the many rooms here with no windows. If that doesn’t sound appealing to you either, then be careful when you book because the cheapest rooms in most hotels are window-free.
- Good 3-star hotels in October from $95 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in October from $122 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in October from $26 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Singapore
>>>Singapore prices and travel tips
Singapore Backpacker Index for 2024: US$73.15